In The Passionate Teacher, Ron Fried describes the Game of School (GOS) as what happens when teachers and students forsake intellectual work and instead engage in their classes as rituals. Take this opportunity to consider this chapter in light of some of the the other experiences that you've had this semester. What elements of the game of school are you seeing in your placements? How have you seen teachers fight the game of school in their classes? What similarities, if any, did you see between the descriptions of American classes in the Teaching Gap and the Game of School? Finally, what impact will this description of the GOS have on your own approach to teaching as expressed in your teaching philosophy?
Observations:
In my school, now that it is brought to my attention, I see the game of school everywhere. I see it with both teachers and students. We all play the game, the biggest player I see is the waiting game. Students and teachers alike are waiting for the next period, for lunch, for the end of the day, for the meeting to be over, for the test to be over, for friday, for the weekend. It is crazy to realize. I also see procrastination. Students get into the classroom and they are unprepared for class, they have to go to their locker for materials, they have to go to the bathroom, they need a drink, they are hungry etc. Teachers also have the same needs, but for the most part I haven't seen really any of it, they take care of what they need to during their own free time. I have seen teachers working hard to engage their students, come up with a really good hook, activity or lab to get students curious and esxcited about learning and keep their attention. If anything, time is wasted and students are waiting for teachers to get organized or find something they need for a lesson. In reality, there is always going to be something better you can do in your classroom whether it be to make up time or better technology and being more motivated or having more energy to teach or whatever, the game will always exist. In the perfect world it wouldn't but I think there will always be the game because there is just too many players that make the game happen. It can be the weather, illness, waiting, motivation, procrastination, technology, all these things contribute. It is hard to avoid the game no matter how much you try to plan your lessons, but I do see teachers working hard to dissuade the behavior. The teacher may be able to train himself or herself not to play but the students are students. I have seen students at lunchtime copy eachothers homework. I have seen students who are supposed to be doing activities just talking and carrying on and not focused on the subject at hand. I have seen students trying to do their work as fast as they can to get it done and have no idea what they are doing but simply going through the motions.
Reflections:
In my classroom, Im going to try my very best not to play the game or let my students play the game. I want all the discussion I have to be meaningful as well as the labs, activities, reading and assignments. I want the rules, expectations, homework, all these policies completely spelled out and posted so there are no discrepencies I want students to be 90% engaged realistically for my class and I want to be the same. Sometimes you don't feel well, are tired etc but at the end of the day no matter if your a teacher or student when your in school you need to give 100% to do your job and do it to the best of your ability. It is vital to make the very most of your time because what is the point if your just wasting your time its more beneficial to take advantage and get the most you can. I think that instead of rote memorization, I will work hard on making my assessments involve critical thinking so that students really need to use their brains and not just spit out facts. I think its important to model good behavior, so if a teacher is clearly playing the game the students will pick up on that. I want to model how my classroom will run, it will be organized and structured and every minute will be used to promote learning. I think that if the teacher is serious and sticks to their routine and keeps their students engaged and curious and has meaningful work then the game will be greatly minimized. Class Topic: End of chapter review Grade: 9 Observed by: Roberta Closter
Observations:
In my school, now that it is brought to my attention, I see the game of school everywhere. I see it with both teachers and students. We all play the game, the biggest player I see is the waiting game. Students and teachers alike are waiting for the next period, for lunch, for the end of the day, for the meeting to be over, for the test to be over, for friday, for the weekend. It is crazy to realize. I also see procrastination. Students get into the classroom and they are unprepared for class, they have to go to their locker for materials, they have to go to the bathroom, they need a drink, they are hungry etc. Teachers also have the same needs, but for the most part I haven't seen really any of it, they take care of what they need to during their own free time. I have seen teachers working hard to engage their students, come up with a really good hook, activity or lab to get students curious and esxcited about learning and keep their attention. If anything, time is wasted and students are waiting for teachers to get organized or find something they need for a lesson. In reality, there is always going to be something better you can do in your classroom whether it be to make up time or better technology and being more motivated or having more energy to teach or whatever, the game will always exist. In the perfect world it wouldn't but I think there will always be the game because there is just too many players that make the game happen. It can be the weather, illness, waiting, motivation, procrastination, technology, all these things contribute. It is hard to avoid the game no matter how much you try to plan your lessons, but I do see teachers working hard to dissuade the behavior. The teacher may be able to train himself or herself not to play but the students are students. I have seen students at lunchtime copy eachothers homework. I have seen students who are supposed to be doing activities just talking and carrying on and not focused on the subject at hand. I have seen students trying to do their work as fast as they can to get it done and have no idea what they are doing but simply going through the motions.Reflections:
In my classroom, Im going to try my very best not to play the game or let my students play the game. I want all the discussion I have to be meaningful as well as the labs, activities, reading and assignments. I want the rules, expectations, homework, all these policies completely spelled out and posted so there are no discrepencies I want students to be 90% engaged realistically for my class and I want to be the same. Sometimes you don't feel well, are tired etc but at the end of the day no matter if your a teacher or student when your in school you need to give 100% to do your job and do it to the best of your ability. It is vital to make the very most of your time because what is the point if your just wasting your time its more beneficial to take advantage and get the most you can. I think that instead of rote memorization, I will work hard on making my assessments involve critical thinking so that students really need to use their brains and not just spit out facts. I think its important to model good behavior, so if a teacher is clearly playing the game the students will pick up on that. I want to model how my classroom will run, it will be organized and structured and every minute will be used to promote learning. I think that if the teacher is serious and sticks to their routine and keeps their students engaged and curious and has meaningful work then the game will be greatly minimized.Class Topic: End of chapter review
Grade: 9
Observed by: Roberta Closter